new memebers

[Pat]

--- In HPFGU-Feedback at yahoogroups.com, "whizbang" <whizbang121 at y...> 
wrote:
> If my experience is anything like yours, few new members will read
> back on old posts.  You will get some great new posters, and 
nurturing
> and encouraging these is where time and effort should be spent.  
But a
> frustrating percentage won't even read the last post on a page 
before
> they jump in.
> 
[snip]
> 
> A while back, I suggested moving HP4GU to a forum style board,
> abandoning the group format.  But that met with a great deal of
> objection.  
> 
> hmmm...
> 
> Well, a forum style board could be run side by side with the
> yahoo.group board.  Or a new board could be open for new members to
> post freely on.  The established board will be viewable, but only
> members who have been considered by the mods to be quality posters
> could be allowed to post.  New members who wish to follow the same
> lines of thought could post them on the newbie board.
> 
> Or it could go the opposite, as well.  Leave the established board 
as
> it is.  But open a new board visible to all members, but only allow
> quality posters to contribute. 



Pat:

While I understand what you are saying about encouraging quality 
posts, I think the whole ide of only allowing some members to post 
while others can only read sounds very snobbish and elitist.  The 
whole idea is so contrary to the spirit of the HP books that it just 
doesn't strike me as a very good idea.

I do agree that a forum (message board format) is a much easier way 
to navigate topics and add thoughtful posts.  In that set-up, there 
isn't the need to snip, and since the whole posts are left intact, 
it's easier for someone to read through and really catch all the 
twistings and turnings of the train of thought of the posters.

I haven't been here long, but have been posting on another forum for 
more than three years.  I do see though, that with the issues of 
bandwidth, that it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to 
have the same thing here.

Having my first posts moderated, as a newbie, was a bit frustrating 
in that I wanted to add my two knuts worth, but by the time it is 
posted, the topic had sometimes moved on.  However, it seems to be a 
good way to let people know what is and is not acceptable, without 
offending people who are new and aren't quite used to the way things 
work.  My hat's off to the Elves working on all that--it must take 
an enormous amount of your time to sort through all of it.

Obviously, no solution, there.  Just my thoughts about the whole 
process.  Too bad there isn't some way to combine the best aspects 
of this and a forum--or is there?  Any other ideas?

Pat  (hollylawrence67)